Okay, thanks for all the reviews and support. Kaydotsidot, thanks for your comment, and no, it didn't sound much like complaining- ive had much worse. Its fine. I did change my summery- just for you lol.

I'd just like to say something though. I know that its night time currently in the story, and I'll apologize if that for some reason, its like night time with eg. Hermione & Draco, but say day time with Harry and Ron. Sorry about that if it happens, but ill try and make it so I doesn't. okay…

Okay, on with the story.

Ron walked with his hands in his pockets as he crossed the grounds. Looking at the border of the Forbidden Forest, he saw a light was on in Hagrid's hut. After briefly wondering why hagrid wasn't up in the hall with everyone else, Ron made his way towards the hut, knowing that hagrid could at least keep his mind distracted for a while.

As he approached the door, he could hear Fang barking, and Hagrid hushing him. Ron knocked on the door with his fist and heard the gruff response – "Com' in'"

Ron opened the door and was drowned in golden light. He saw Hagrid sitting at his kitchen table, a large mug of tea in his hands. Hagrid looked up.

"Oh, 'allo Ron. Where's 'Arry?" hagrid asked, looking behind Ron.

"I dunno." Ron replied, sitting down opposite hagrid.

Hagrid raised a thick eye brow. "Yeh two aren't fightn' are yeh?"

"Well no, not exactly…" Ron said diverting his eyes.

"No' exactly?" hagrid repeated.

Ron sighed. Then he retold the story for the second time that night. When he was done, Hagrid's reaction was the same as Ginny. He just sat there, listening then was silent. "Oh."

"I know I should have controlled my temper…but…well…he was just annoying me. You know how great Dumbledore is," hagrid smiled at the name, "And Harry was just throwing the ideas away…and he was acting like he was the only one who cared for Hermione…it just got to me."

"Well, yeh both know that aint true. N' Hermione knows that as well. But maybe, have yeh tried puttin' yeh self in Harry's place? He's lost lots o' people. His parents, Sirius, Cedric, almost Ginny n' yeh, n now he faces losn' Hermione. He'd be sick o' it by now. N' o' course, no one can forget Miss Chang. No one deserves teh have that much loss in their lives. He's put up with more than most fully grown men. I can't blame him feh losin' his temper."

Ron nodded slowly. He hadn't thought of it like that. "I guess I thought he was being selfish…"

Hagrid frowned. "Yeh think 'arry could be selfish? Maybe 'e does worry a littl' too much, but he's just scared and 'e cares feh both o' yeh."

Ron nodded again. "Yeah I suppose so."

"Fear does strange things teh a man. Maybe this is just 'arry's way o' dealin with it. But yeh should be supportive o' e'ach other, particularly now." Hagrid smiled. "Yeh n' Harry have always fought, n always becam' friends again."

Ron smiled back at hagrid, then asked what was playing in the back of his mind. "Hagrid, why aren't you up in the great hall with everyone else?"

Hagrid's face fell. "I…er…was just down ere' doin sumthin. Nothin important."

Hagrid's sudden change of mood, and nervousness made Ron curious. "Such as?" he probed carefully.

"Well…I was lookin after some business. That's all." Hagrid tried to make it sound like nothing, but his eyes kept shifting to the back door.

Ron looked at it curiously. "Hagrid, you haven't gotten another dragon have you?"

Hagrid snorted. "No. I wish. Nah, its nothin Ron. Just somethin I'm takin care o'."

"Hagrid, if you don't tell me…I swear." Ron said, though his threat was hollow.

Hagrid was fidgeting with the handle of his mug. "Promise not teh tell anyone? Maybe Harry n Hermione, but no one else?"

"I…" Ron thought for a minute. What if it was something dangerous, like another giant brother? "I promise hagrid."

"Okay…" hagrid took a deep breath, then sighed. "Remember ho' we was talkin bout Sirius just now?" Ron nodded. "well…its Buckbeak. 'e was all alone ,so 'e cam' back ere, n I've been lookin after him."

Ron smiled. "That's not that bad hagrid."

Hagrid gave a small smile. "No, it is. See, remember when Beaky was goin teh be…executed? N yeh three saved him? Well, the minister still would execute him if 'e knew beaky was back."

Ron frowned. "Oh okay. Well I suppose-"

But hagrid shssed him. Hagrid stood up and peered out his window, towards the castle. "oh no! its late Ron n yeh outside…er…hide! Dumbledore n some other mans comin! No, yeh cant hide…go out the back! Go!" hagrid hurriedly put his mug in the sink and pushed Ron until he was in the back doorway. "Go up teh castle n make friends with Harry! Go!"

Just then, there was a knock on hagrid's door. He thumped over, checked that Ron was out of sight and opened it. "Oh hallo Professor. Oh n lupin." Hagrid held the door open for them.

Ron quietly closed his door, and was creeping past the window when he heard someone inside say "Hermione."

Ron stopped, but he didn't want to eavesdrop. But it was something about Hermione, and he wanted to know what it was. So, he carefully crept up to the window, and peeked inside.

Dumbledore was sitting down in the same seat Ron had been moments before, lupin was standing behind Dumbledore, and hagrid was standing up opposite them, playing nervously with his hands.

"Well hagrid, we must do something." Dumbledore was saying. "I cant let one of my students die without a fight, so to speak."

"But I though' arry didn't like tha' plan?" hagrid asked.

Dumbledore raised an eye brow. Ron and hagrid both instinctively slapped their foreheads. "No he didn't. but I'm sure that in time he'll come to see that it is the only way of getting Miss Granger out un harmed."

Then lupin spoke. "Yes…I'm sure he will. Besides, he wants to get Voldermort as bad as we do- perhaps even more. But it is perfect. We could spy on him and get Hermione back…its like killing two birds with one stone."

Hagrid nodded. "Yeah, but will we get Hermione out in time?"

Dumbledore's features hardened. "I have every intention of getting Miss Granger back before anything can harm her. If she happens to know something, then we'll know it too. But I will not send her in to find anything. That is not what I was planning at all."

"I think that's what Harry thought you were planning." Lupin said sighing. "and I must confess, I thought it was too."

Dumbledore smiled. "Obviously my students and co- workers do not know me that well."

Lupin jerked. Dumbledore and hagrid looked at him. "I'm sorry. I must return to the castle…potion time." Dumbledore nodded.

Ron's eyes widened. Then he glanced up to the sky and saw that it was a relatively cloudy night. But the moon was starting to peak through the clouds. Lupin would have less then ten minutes to reach the castle and the potion.

Ron ducked behind a bush just as lupin came running out of Hagrid's hut, and sprinted all the way up to the castle.

Ron stayed where he was, as he thought he heard Dumbledore coming out. But he didn't. so after five minutes of uncomfortable spikes, Ron climbed out of the bush and stretched. He had started making his own way back up to the castle when he heard someone open Hagrid's door. He crouched behind the hut wall.

"I shall see you tomorrow hagrid." Dumbledore was saying. Then there was a thud of wood, and the light was cut off. Dumbledore hummed a minute, then smiled. "You can come out now Mr. Weasley."

Ron sheepishly came out of his hiding place and trudged towards Dumbledore, sure that he was going to be punished.

"Having a nice walk?" Dumbledore asked, still smiling.

"huh?" Ron stuttered.

"I assume that's why you're out here. I always find that a nice night time walk helps to clear the mind."

Ron grinned. Obviously Dumbledore knew the real reason why Ron was there, but he chose not to say anything. "Yes." Ron replied. "I thought…I thought you said back in your office that you had given up on Hermione." Ron said, forgetting that he was 'walking' and not listening.

Dumbledore smiled at him, the old glint back. "Walk with me Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore started to pace up the hill, Ron having to almost skip. "I never gave up on Hermione. And I never will. I only said it to stop Harry's rage attack. You and I both know how stubborn he his." Dumbledore smiled at Ron who returned the smile. "so I thought I'd let him win that round. If Harry truly believed I have given up, then he would have gone by now, to go and get Hermione alone. But he has not. So we're safe."

Ron nodded as they walked. "Yeah I suppose. So you're going along with the plan then, even without Harry's permission?"

Dumbledore laughed. "I never needed Harry's permission. I was simply being polite in telling him how we're going to get his friend back. As this is the only way, and I am much older then him, I'll do as I please."

Ron laughed. They entered the entrance hall and Dumbledore stopped walking.

"well Mr. Weasley, I will no doubt see you tomorrow. If you're stopped by any teachers, tell them you were with me. Good night."

Ron nodded, and started to slowly walk up the stair case alone.

As Harry walked out of the great hall, he could feel eyes on the back of his neck. He could see the sympathetic looks, hear the "oh, Hermione's hes best friend" and "Poor guy." It was smothering him. His ears were practically burning themselves to a crisp. No, he couldn't take another minute in that hall.

Harry jumped the stairs two at a time, and walked along the quiet and deserted corridors alone. Deep down, he knew Ron had a point, knew Ron was only looking out for him. But it made him mad because Ron hadn't suffered the things Harry himself had suffered. Ron still had his parents and loving family. He hadn't seen them killed right in front of him. No. out of all the pain Harry had suffered, as far as loosing people, Ron had only been apart of two, maybe some of three. 1st was Ginny in their second year. Hell, maybe Ron had felt worse then. Then there's Hermione. Both felt that pain. And then there was Sirius. Ron was attached to Sirius, as much as Hermione. But Sirius had been Harry's godfather. Had been closest to Harry.

Harry had reached the fat lady. He sat the password and walked inside, sitting down next to the fire with parchment and a quill. After some thinking, Harry began to write.

Dear Hermione.

I don't think anyone could know what both Ron and I are going through, not to mention yourself. Its so hard to put it into words…but that half of you that says we don't miss you…I'd cut it out if I was there. Because that is total rubbish. I am glad to know that you're safe, where ever it is that you are.

Me and Ron aren't so lucky. We are forced to think of you, no matter how painful it may be. Hogwarts is not the same without you. The classrooms are empty, as far as the knowledge inside them goes. And the corridors are grey and lifeless. The library is almost empty…though, I must say, I never saw it with so many books…you mostly have them stacked under your bed!

That history essay was already due, and we both failed, though I don't think you're surprised.

We won our last Quidditch match, against Ravenclaw. It was supposed to be slytherin, but their seeker, Malfoy, hasn't come back from holidays. No one is worried- no one cares….apart from maybe the slytherins.

Ginny has grown attached to your cat. I heard that she refused to go into McGonagall's class unless Crookshanks could. Well of course, the professor allowed it, though she wasn't pleased because Crookshanks kept coughing up fur balls all lesson..

Please write to us again soon…

Love, Harry.

Harry wasn't sure that Hermione would get his letter, but he could hope. So, he folded it up, and started back out into the corridor, and made his way to the owlery.

When he arrived, he saw all the owls were settled in for the night, their feathers ruffled, and eyes closed. He looked around for Hedwig and walked over to her. "Hey I know its bedtime…but this letter is really important- can you take it to Hermione?"

Hedwig opened one eye while he was talking, and when he had finished, both were opened. She looked at him as if to say 'isnt Hermione missing?' but she tipped her head to the side, affectionately bit his finger and waited while he tied the letter to her leg.

When he was done, Harry carried her over to the window, scratched her behind the head and watched her fly into the black sky until she had disappeared into the clouds.

He wasn't sure if hedwig could even deliver the letter- what if someone shot her down? Choosing not to think so negative, Harry shook his head and headed back down to the common room.

When he arrived, he was surprised to see it was still empty. So Harry sat down in front of the fire and watched it until someone came through the portrait.

It was no one Harry knew, so he ignored them. Then a stream of people came through, and slowly they trickled up into their respected rooms. Harry didn't speak to anyone, didn't even acknowledge them. He simply stared into the orange flames, not tried, but not that awake either.

Until finally he was left alone again.

Ten minutes later, Ron came through the portrait and gasped when he saw Harry. "Oh Harry. I didn't…didn't expect you to still be up…"

"Yeah…couldn't sleep." Harry mumbled.

"Listen Harry…I …I wanted to say that I'm sorry."

Harry looked at him and Ron took a deep breath before continuing. "I was being selfish. I never thought to look at it from your prospective. I was stupid to have a go at you…I'm sorry."

Harry was silent a minute then said, "No Ron, you were right. I was being rude. I actually did think I was the only one who cared for Hermione…I guess my fear of losing her clouded my judgment."

Ron grinned. "I guess it was a tie then."

Harry smiled. "Yeah a tie."

(a/n: okay, I know so far its only been Harry and Ron, but for the rest of this chappy its only Draco and Hermione. Just letting you know.)

Hermione rolled over, away from the sun. She opened two blurry eyes and saw Malfoy was just coming out of the bathroom, already dressed. He was wearing lose black jeans, and a black zip up jacket, and was just putting on a black hooded cloak. He ruffled his hair with his hands, and pocketed his wand.

"You better get up." He said, not turning around.

"Do I have to?" Hermione asked, dreading the day she knew was ahead of her.

"Yes. Do it before I make you." Malfoy said no hint of humour in his voice.

Hermione frowned. "I would but I didn't get much sleep last night, thanks to you."

"You say that as though its my fault." Malfoy replied, turning to glare at her.

"It is your fault!" Hermione said, sitting straight up. "I was sleeping fine until you woke me up! I was mentally fine until you told me about today. I would have slept fine if YOU hadn't said anything!"

"I thought you'd like to know." Malfoy said calmly. "So get up and we can get this shit over with."

Hermione glared at him. Then threw the covers off, grabbed some random clothes off the end of her bed and stormed into the bathroom. Hermione change into a pair of jeans, white button up shirt and a black cloak she grabbed off a rack.

When she returned into the room, she saw Malfoy leaning against the window/door and looking out, broom clutched in one hand.

Hermione pocketed her wand and glared again. "We're getting there on that?"

"Yes. You can walk. It'd take you at least a month…depending how far away it is." Draco said turning around. "Can we go now please?"

Hermione made a mental note to tell Harry that Draco had used the word 'please' before she walked over to him and nodded dramatically.

Draco nodded but before he said anything, he walked past her, picked up a black bag of some kind, about the size of a purse, and pocketed it. "Good. Now get on." He said, coming back to her and mounting the broom.

"Cant believe I'm doing this." Hermione mumbled as she climbed on and closed her eyes.

She felt Draco kick off, and the wind in her face.

Draco climbed quickly, then turned west, and sped off. He could hear Hermione whimpering behind him. He grinned evilly as something came to him that was just cruel. He made sure he was high enough, before diving straight down.

Hermione's scream would have shamed a banshee. Draco was sure that his father, mother, all the house elves that weren't up already, and the guards would have heard it. He could feel a headache building up in his mind, so he started to pull out of the dive but shouted in surprise. He had miscalculated the dive timing, and was now going to clash with the mountain side.

Hermione's screaming intensified as Draco almost shut his eyes and was now flying up vertical, running parallel to the cliff face.

"I'm going to fall! I'm going to fall…I'm going to…die!" Hermione was screeching in Draco's ear.

Draco felt the cold sweat on his forehead as they cleared the cliff and he started to level out the broom. He had to admit, that was a close call... his heart started to pump normally, and Draco let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Never…never do that…again!" Hermione yelled, trying to catch her breath.

"It was fine." Draco said, never ready to admit that he had made a tiny mistake.

"FINE? You call almost killing us fine!" Hermione began hitting his shoulders.

"Hey, hey! Settle down!" Malfoy said, swerving the broom as he tried to avoid her hits. "And yes, I do call it fine. If I had killed us then it would have been different."

"Malfoy, if your stupidity doesn't get you-us- killed, then I will make sure you suffer for this!" Hermione threatened.

Draco grinned. "Oh you forget Granger who is in control of this thing." Just to prove his point, Draco dipped again, though bought it out quickly.

"Don't do that!" Hermione screamed again.

Draco smirked. He had successfully proved his point.

Hermione was shaking now. How did she get herself into this? On a broomstick with a madman? Oh yeah. She was kidnapped. She forgot. She tried to calm her breathing, and looked down.

They were flying smoothly over the mountain top, and over tall cone shaped trees. It seemed that Malfoy actually could control the broom- when he wasn't trying to kill them. They glided smoothly, Malfoy obviously knowing how to ride the wind's back properly.

They were quickly coming up to a lake, and Draco descended a little. When they were flying on top of the water, Hermione could just see their reflection, moving smoothly over the ripples.

Then Draco climbed again, and shot through the clouds.

"What?" Hermione asked curious as to his sudden altitude change.

"Town is coming up Granger. Surely you of all muggles know it's not natural to see a flying broom- even if it carries someone as sexy as me and a bookworm."

Hermione glared at his neck. God he was full of himself!

Malfoy was low enough so that they were half submerged in the clouds. Hermione slowly let go of his waist and reached out to touch a cloud for the first time. Harry had had this experience many times, but Hermione, someone who was afraid of flying was trying for the first time.

Her hand was a few centimetres away…finally she could say she's touched the clouds…almost there…and Hermione nearly toppled off the broom. She grabbed out for something to hold, and happened to grab Draco's waist again. Surprised at the sudden jerk to his left, Draco lent and turned the broom, almost flipping it over.

"What the hell?" he shouted, as he struggled to level himself and the broom.

Hermione buried her head in his shoulder blades.

"What the hell was that Granger?" Draco shouted as he tried to look at her. "Now who's trying to kill us?"

Hermione didn't reply. Woops.

Every now and then, Draco dipped back below the clouds to check their direction. Good, they were still heading the right way.

His stomach grumbled loudly. Maybe they should have grabbed a quick bite before they left…too late now.

They had travelled for about an hour since Hermione's little mishap, and she hadn't moved or said a word. Draco had thought that she was asleep, and debated to scare her awake…say, diving again? But he thought against it. What if she let go and fell off?

Dipping below the cloud line again, Draco saw there was a town coming up. He started to descend and was soon skimming the tree tops.

Hermione woke when she heard branches snapping. "What the?"

"Fell asleep?" Draco asked as he tried to land the broom in a small clearing without beheading themselves on the branches.

"Yes…must have…" Hermione answered yawning.

Draco landed the broom with a soft bump and climbed off. Hermione gratefully stumbled off it, and looked around.

"We're here already?"

Around them was large, dark brown tree trunks, lush bushes and green grass. Not what she had picked for Voldermort at all.

"No. I was hungry, and there's a town not far away." Draco said, stashing the broom in a bush. "Take your cloak off."

Hermione raised an eye brow. "I know, thank you." She said, untying it and hiding it with the broom. Malfoy sneered, did the same and lead the way towards the town.

It was a short walk, and soon they were walking along a small street that was relatively empty. Some people were out, holding the hands of small children, or lovers. Hermione felt uncomfortable. Clearly, a family town. Great.

"Now, where would a bakey be?" Malfoy asked so only Hermione could hear.

"Err, you mean a bakery?" Hermione asked smiling innocently.

"Whatever. Where is it?" Draco snapped.

"How the hell should I know?" Hermione said, losing her temper. "Try up the street ferret."

A man passing with a little girl looked at them oddly. "Now pumpkin, calling people names is a nasty thing to do." He glared at Hermione, before disappearing into a shop.

Malfoy smirked. "Yeah Granger, calling people names is a nasty thing to do."

"Don't push it pumpkin." Hermione replied.

They passed an old lady who heard Hermione's comment. She smiled at Hermione, her mouth wrinkling the rest of her face. Hermione smiled back awkwardly.

"Pumpkin?" Malfoy said looking disgusted, obviously not noticing the woman.

"Yes now come on darling." Hermione said, grabbing his arm and leading him away from the old lady who was watching them both fondly and curiously. "You're attracting attention." She mumbled out the side of her mouth, letting Malfoy go as soon as they were out of sight of the woman.

"Yes, I find I do that quite well." Malfoy replied, holding himself up in mock pride.

"For better or worse Malfoy?" Hermione asked quietly, looking for a bakery.

"Better. Much ,much better-"

"Spare me. Come on." Hermione said, spotting a wooden sign on a corner shop that said 'Berry's baked bakery.'

Hermione walked away, and Malfoy followed. Hermione entered the bakery and was immediately drowned in the smell of fresh bread and pastry. Before Hermione approached the counter to have a better look, Malfoy pulled her back and put something in her hand.

"Here, you'd better take this…I hate dealing with muggle money." He mumbled, and Hermione realized he had put the black pouch she had seen in his room in her hand.

"Why? Too hard Malfoy?" Hermione asked.

"No." Malfoy said arrogantly. "I just don't like dealing with anything muggle."

Hermione sighed and walked up to the counter. She scanned the shelves of food and turned to Malfoy, her mind made up. "Know what you want?"

Malfoy was glancing over his shoulder at two teenage boys sitting by the window. Both of them were watching Hermione interestedly. He turned back to her. "What? Oh um." He peered over her shoulder and looked.

At that moment, a woman wearing a white apron, covered in flour came to the counter. "Hello dears." She said kindly, smiling. "What may I get for you?"

She waited patiently as Hermione gave her order and waited for Draco. When he gave it, she nodded and typed it in on the till. When she had gotten their food, she placed it in front of them and looked expectedly at Draco. But Hermione was the one who fumbled around in the bag and pulled out the money. The woman almost looked amazed- obviously she thought this was some sort of date, and that it should always be the man paying.

But Hermione smiled at her and took their food and took it over to a table set up for two. They sat down, Hermione's back facing the window and the boys. Draco was almost jealous at the guys.

He ate his food quickly, not wanting to be around them long.

"Malfoy, are you okay?" Hermione asked, watching as he scoffed the food. He reminded her of Ron.

Malfoy nodded in reply, his eyes glued slyly to the boys. Then he saw something that made his heart skip at beat. His eyes widened for a minute, and he seemed to stop breathing. A cold sweat broke on his forehead.

"Malfoy?" Hermione's voice sounded far away as she watched him. "Malfoy?"

"We…we have to go." Malfoy said, grabbing Hermione's food and standing up.

"Wha-"

"I'll explain later!" Draco hissed.

Hermione knew something wasn't right but played along. "Oh yeah right. We'll…be late."

Draco led her quickly from the bakery and out into the street.

"Malfoy wha-"

"Later!" Draco hissed again, seeing out of the corner of his eye the boys watching them intently through the window.

Hermione was about to pester him for answers when he took off at a brisk pace. Hermione skipped to keep up, and decided to just follow and play along instead of wasting her breath.

Draco didn't say anything as they rounded a corner and waited. He sneakily looked around it again and saw no one coming. "Come on" he said and led her off quickly into the forest, and almost ran back to his broom.

"Are you going to tell me-"

"Get on!" Malfoy said angrily as he threw her cloak at her, momentarily recognising it as one of his own, tying his one on, and grabbing the broom.

"Bu-"

"Now!"

Hermione obeyed and climbed on the broom behind him.

No sooner then Draco felt her weight on it than he took off, straight up, heading for the clouds.

When he reached them, he breathed and relaxed. Then he shot off in the direction that was west.

"Can you tell me now?"

"No. Ask me again when we land" Draco snapped, not wanting to…well…alarm her.

Hermione was angry. Obviously he knew something she did not. Obviously he saw something she did not. But what could it have been to make him take off like that? Sure, he was tense before, but now it was like he was as stiff and cold as a log.

She couldn't be bothered arguing, so she closed her eyes and tried not to think about being up thousands of meters above ground.

Within a few hours, the clouds were turning grey, cold and wet. And then not too long after that, they were tinged with pink as the sun began to set.

"Shit." Draco muttered. "Brace yourself!" he called over his shoulder, not bothering to wait for a response.

He braced himself for the cold and ducked below the clouds, getting wet. "Its about to bucket down! Can you see a town?" he asked.

"No…" Hermione squeaked. One thing she hated more then flying- it was flying while there was a storm.

Draco wiped his eyes. It started to rain lightly, but was slowly picking up strength. He strained his eyes to see through the mist that was now settling over the country. This was brilliant. Bloody god damn brilliant.

He flew lower, still trying to see any form of shelter. Then he saw a small clump of lights. A small town. He sighed in relief and sped up, wanting to reach it before it rained harder.

A flash of lightning, a roll of thunder, and lots of rain later, Draco and Hermione were landing on the out skirts of the town, stashing the broom, but keeping their cloaks, and running along the now muddy ground into the main street.

The town was fairly small, and the streets completely deserted. So muggles had enough brains to keep out of storms, Draco mused.

Both had their hoods up and were scanning the shop signs for a motel or inn. Hermione was shivering from the cold, and could feel her white shirt slowly going see- through. She squeaked and wrapped her cloak around tighter. Great. Could it get any worse?

Draco however, had grabbed his best cloak. It was charmed so that it was opposite to the weather. If it was cold weather, the cloak would be warm. If it was hot, the cloak would be a freezer. Also luckily for him, it repelled water. For once in his life, he thanked his father's genius.

Both spotted the inn at the same time and ran for it.

The foyer was pretty basic. A lounge, a fire (that wasn't lit) and a wooden desk. A woman sat there, her hair pulled into a lose bun and was wearing a shabby old cardigan. She looked up when they entered and smiled a well rehearsed smile, that showed the red lipstick on her teeth.

Hermione smiled back and walked up to her. "Er hi. I would like to borrow a room for tonight…two single beds please." Hermione added, not wanting to give off the wrong impression.

The lady however, seemed to have already got it. She raised a sharp eye brow. "Right. And how will you be paying for this?" she asked

"Money." Hermione replied a little smugly. She pulled out the black bag that she still had.

The woman sighed dramatically and nodded. "Room 34 is available." She snatched the money out of Hermione's hand, grabbed a gold key from a draw and indicated for them to follow her.

She stopped at a door that was brown and flaky. "Breakfast is served at eight thirty sharp." She glared at them before handing the key to Hermione and walking back down the hall.

Hermione shook her head and slid the key into the lock and opened the door. She was absolutely disgusted with the room. Once you entered from the corridor, you were crammed into a narrow hallway that had an extremely small bathroom to the left and a claustrophobic closet to your right. Heading straight, you came to the crammed bedroom, that had two single beds, squashed in.

All the walls were lemon marang in colour, and, like the ceiling, were cracked and flaking. The carpet was a light brown, with stains of drink here and there. A small window was on the far wall, that had dirty and cracked glass, and shabby window shutters.

The entire place smelled oddly of cat pee.

Hermione dreaded Malfoy's response.

And this was it. "Holey shit."

Hermione couldn't agree more.

"My money payed for this?" he asked out raged.

Hermione nodded. "Yep."

"I wouldn't even pay a knut to stay an hour here!"

"Actually, you payed the equivalent of about one hundred galleons." Hermione said quietly.

"WHAT?" Malfoy screamed. Hermione didn't really care- after all, it wasn't her money that was wasted. And by the way Malfoy brags, he can afford to loose a few galleons here and there. "Trust muggles to think this is acceptable."

Hermione sighed. They could hear the storm raging outside, and the wind pushing against the shutters. "As long as there is a roof over my head I'm not complaining."

"You never complain." Malfoy mumbled, though he had to agree.

Hermione put the key down on a small, very small table and chose the bed away from the window.

Malfoy climbed into the other bed.

Both were extreamly un happy.

The mattresses were thin, so thin that the springs were almost poking through. On Hermione's, one near the bottom had. The thin blankets stunk, and the pillows had almost no feathers in them.

In the end, after much tossing, turning and cursing, both decided to lie on top of the blankets and use their cloaks for warmth.

At least their clothes were beginning to dry.

If there was a hole in the roof, Hermione promised that she would scream, run down the corridor, and yell abuse at the woman.

Both of them fell into an uneasy, and rather uncomfortable sleep.

Man that's a long chapter! Hehehehe.

Okay. I'm making up for lost story.

Update again when I can

Aj.